For January we have a contrasting selection of titles covering art, interiors, interiors photography and design reference. Rubens and His Legacy accompanies the hotly anticipated exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts and spotlights the work of an exceptional master. There’s plenty of ideas in the two interior design books, one on French eclecticism and the other a scholarly survey of the ever-popular classical styles. The skill of interiors photographers is often unjustly overlooked. An oversight that is partly rectified by this book on the work of Francois Halard. Finally Dominic Bradbury’s Mid-Century Modern is a magisterial survey of an enduringly popular movement and a must for any design book collection. Find them all at the GDC Interiors Book Store
Francois Halard
By Francois Halard, Published by Rizzoli, RRP £44.37
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Francois Halard was catapulted to fame as a young man some thirty years ago, when he photographed Yves Saint Laurent’s legendary Paris apartment. Now with a deserved reputation as one of the most talented of interiors photographers, this book compiles his distinctive record of the homes of some of the 20th century’s great taste makers: Axel Vervoordt, Roger Vivier, Richard Avedon, the Duchess of Devonshire, Julian Schnabel, Schiaparelli, Carlo Mollino, Balthus, Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, and many more, including Halard’s own homes in New York, Paris, and Arles.
Classical Interiors – Historical and Contemporary
By Elizabeth Meredith Dowling, Published by Rizzoli, RRP £60
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Although classical design is instantly recognisable with its rich language of familiar symbols, it also possesses a myriad of nuances. Not surprising when you bear in mind that it has developed and been adapted by many different cultures over twenty-five centuries. A noted scholar in the field, Dowling presents this development down to the present day with the work of well-known contemporary designers like Studio Peregalli and Quinlan & Francis Terry. ‘Classical Interiors’ is an excellent survey of the architecture of the interior as expressed through the numerous varieties of classical forms.
French Flair – Modern Vintage Interiors
By Sebastien Siraudeau, Published by Flammarion, RRP £30
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The main premise behind this richly photographed time of 700 pages seems to be that mixing styles and periods is OK. Writer and photographer Sebastien Siraudeau shows how the French mix-and-match, offering decorating advice along the way. The examples of ‘French Flair’ photographed include rural guesthouses, town houses, seaside retreats and antique shops. The book may be organised around various styles but the overriding theme is really the French take on eclecticism.
Rubens and His Legacy
By Nico Van Hout, Published by Royal Academy of Arts, RRP £48
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Artist, sculptor, architect, intellectual, humanist scholar and diplomat, Rubens was a truly exceptional superstar and towering Renaissance man. When he wasn’t brokering peace between warring powers (and being knighted for his successes), he was churning out a vast output of ground-breaking works that were much sought after in his lifetime. Often compared to Warhol as a consequence of his workshop of partners, assistants and pupils, he was in contrast not only entrepreneur, impresario and merchandiser but also primary creator. He skilfully used specialists to work on say battle scenes or animals and demanded a premium for works exclusively by himself. By cultivating relationships with print makers he created an international awareness of his work. This book accompanies the Royal Academy’s blockbuster exhibition ‘Rubens and His Legacy: Van Dyck to Cézanne’ and surveys both Rubens’ own magnificent work as well as his immense impact on artists well beyond his time, including Cezanne, Van Gogh and Picasso among many others. Read our review of RA exhibition ‘Rubens and His Legacy: Van Dyck to Cézanne’.
Mid-Century Modern Complete
By Dominic Bradbury, Published by Thames and Hudson, RRP £60
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The energy and innovation in design in the years following the Second World War, were so distinctively different to what had preceded it, that it was already possible for the term ‘Mid-Century Modern’ to have emerged as early as the mid-50s. Many of the designs of this period – whether mass produced or not – continue to be immensely popular, and are considered ‘design classics’. Bradbury’s survey is an indispensable and definitive survey of this movement, covering furniture, lighting, glass, ceramics, textiles, product design, industrial design, graphics and posters, as well as architecture and interior design. Nearly 100 major creators – many of whom are justifiably household names – are covered, and their work is extensively illustrated.
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